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Additional Information pages for Prince of Wales Island
 134° 24' W Longitude - 58° 18' N Latitude
Located on the mainland of Southeast Alaska, Juneau was built at
the heart of the Inside Passage along the Gastineau Channel. It
lies 900 air miles northwest of Seattle and 600 air miles southeast
of Anchorage.
Climate:
Juneau has a mild, maritime climate. Average summer temperatures
range from 44 to 65 degrees Far. and from 25 to 35 degrees Far.
in winter. It is in the mildest climate zone in Alaska.
Annual precipitation is 92 inches in downtown Juneau, and 54 inches
ten miles north at the airport. Snowfall averages 101 inches.
History:
The area was a fish camp for the indigenous Tlingit Indians. In
1880, nearly 20 years before the gold rushes to the Klondike and
Nome, Joe Juneau and Richard Harris were lead to Gold Creek by Chief
Kowee of the Auk Tribe. They found mother lode deposits upstream,
staked their mining claims, and developed a 160 acre incorporated
city they called Harrisburg, which brought many prospectors to the
area. The state capital was transferred from Sitka to Juneau in
1906 while Alaska was a U.S. Territory. The Treadwell and Ready
Bullion mines across the channel on Douglas Island became world-scale
mines, operating from 1882 to 1917. In 1916, the Alaska-Juneau gold
mine was built on the mainland, and became the largest operation
of its kind in the world. In 1917, a cave-in and flood closed the
Treadwell mine on Douglas. It produced $66 million in gold in its
35 years of operation. Fishing, canneries, transportation and trading
services, and a sawmill contributed to Juneau's growth through the
early 1900s. Mining declined by the 1930s, and the A-J Mine closed
in 1944 when it was declared a nonessential wartime activity. The
A-J produced over $80 million in gold.
Today, as the state capital, Juneau is supported largely by State
and Federal employment, and by tourists cruising the Inside Passage.
It is the third largest community in Alaska. Juneau has a Tlingit
history with a strong historical influence from the early prospectors
and boom town that grew around full-scale gold mining operations.
The State,
City & Borough of Juneau, and federal agencies provide nearly
45% of the employment in the community. Juneau is home to State
Legislators and their staff during the legislative session between
January and May. Tourism is a significant contributor to the private
sector economy during the summer months. There are all necessary
accommodations available as in a huge city of the lower 48 states
in town or within the vicinity.
Points of Interest:
A walking tour:
A walking tour brochure is available in all information centers
and hotels in downtown. The log cabin information center is
located at 134 3rd Street, if you need specific details and information
when in town.
State Capitol Building:
Located at the corner of 4th and Main Streets, host the legislative
chambers and the governor's office. Tours are available free
of charge at the lobby from 9am to 5pm.
State Office Building:
Located one block west of the State Capitol Building, houses the
State Historical Library and Kimball theater organ. There
are free organ concerts at noon each Fridays.
Alaska State Museum:
Located at 395 Whittier Street, in downtown, exhibits diaromas and
materials from Alaska's native groups and Russian, as well as a
life size eagle nesting tree surrounded by a mural of a Southeast
Alaska scene. Open Mon-Fri from 9am to 6pm, and 10am to 6pm
on week-ends during summer season. Open 10am to 4pm Tue-Sat.
in winter. Admission fee when older than 18.
Juneau-Douglas City Museum:
Located at the corner of 4th and Main Streets, just across the State
Capitol Building in the Veteran's Memorial Building, features mining
and local history display, a large relief map, and some special
exhibits during summer. Open 9am to 5pm Mon-Fri and 10am to 5pm
on week-ends from mid-May until mid-September. Limited hours in
winter.
The Governor's Mansion:
Located at 716 Calhoun Ave is the 12,900 square foot house to Alaska's
Chief Executive since 1913. This house took nearly a year
to be completed. Tours are available with prior arrangement.
The House of Wickersham:
Located at 213 7th Street display a big historical collection of
photographs, historical documents concerning Native culture, Native
artifacts and baskets from the early 1900s.
Visit the Library:
Located on the top of the public parking garage of downtown Juneau,
has a comfortable and well lit area to enjoy local books.
An excellent view from downtown Juneau. Award winning library
designed by the architect Minch Ritter Voelckers.
Marine Park:
Located at the foot of Seward Street display the Ed Way bronze sculpture
named "Hard Rock Miner". There are tables, benches and facilities
for cruise ship launches, as well as free concerts on Friday evening
in summer.
Alaska Native Artists Market:
Located in the Sealaska Cultural Arts Park on the waterfont and
held in May 15th through October 17th. It features over 150 artists'
work representing Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Yup'ik, Aleut, Athabascan,
Inupiat and other Native cultures.
 Old Mine Ruins:
Located along the side of a marked trail that starts just south
of Sandy Beach on Douglas Island, remnants from the Treadwell Mine
days can be seen.
Thane Road:
Start just south of downtown Juneau and extend 5.5 miles along the
Gastineau Channel, offerig excellent views of the channel and several
old mines. The road is paved and spawning salmon can be viewed
in summer at Sheep Creek Bridge and falls.
Mendenhall Glacier:
Located at the end of Mendelhall Glacier Spur Road, 13 miles from
downtown Juneau. Large parking and a visitor center offering
information about the glacier. Check the hiking trail section
for several option at this location.
Mount Robert Trail Observation Point:
A tramway depart every 8 to 10 minutes from the base facility on
cruise ship dock to the observation deck. 3,500 square foot
observation deck offers excellent view of Juneau from 2,000 feet
elevation. The observation deck can also be reached by hiking
the Mount Robert Trail that start at the top of Starr Hill on 6th
Street.
Mount Juneau Waterfall:
Visible from Basin Road and Marine Park, the scenic waterfall descends
3,576 feet from Mount Juneau to Gold Creek.
Gastineau Salmon Hatchery:
Located on Chanel Drive, 2.5 miles from downtown Juneau, offers
view of spawning salmon and over 100 species of Southeast Alaska
sea life in aquariums. Aquaculture displays, salmon product
available to purchase and some seasonal activities to view.
Open 10am to 6pm Mon-Fri and noon to 5pm on week-ends in summer.
Incubation room tours are available from May 15th through June 30th;
spawning salmon sight tours are available from July 1st through
October 1st .
Golden North Salmon Derby:
Held for 3 days only in late August.
Juneau Icefield:
Located on the east side of town, this 1,500 square mile icefield
is source of the numerous glaciers of the local area. It includes
Mendenhall, Taku, Eagle and Herbert glaciers. Numerous flight
operators are available for sightseeing.
Glacier Bay National Park:
Located 50 miles northwest from Juneau contains some of the most
impressive tidewater glaciers in the world. Some of the main
glaciers are: Alsek, Johns Hopkins, Margerie, Rendu, Carroll, McBride,
Muir, Casement, Reid, Lamplugh, and more...Glacier Bay Park is 3.3
million acres, and offers 16 tidewater glaciers.
Tracy Arm & Endicott Arm:
Located 50 miles southeast of Juneau. Those Arms are the major
features of the Tracy Arm-Fjords Terror Wilderness Area; they are
very long, deep and narrow and extend more than 30 miles in glaciated
Coast Mountain Range. Charters are available by boat, ferry
or float plane to those destinations. Also a popular sea kayaking
area.
Visit the town of Pelican
Visit the town of Hoonah
Visit the town of Tenakee
Springs
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